Right, I feel like I am letting Chutney down by not passing on her messages so I am glad PD and Turnip have been. Isn't her boy lovely? Little O is a week today and I feel like I want another one it's so lovely, so I guess that proves I am recovered...mentally.
Right, just going to bore on a bit about the specifics of a cs for those who asked. You should ask Chutney, she has now had three!
I didn't mean to freak anyone out who is due to have one. I am so sorry! And I would definitely have another one. I think it's different for everyone, and in fact my obstetrician, who did the op, has had two herself and they differed. The anesthetist explained to me why epidurals can be complicated and it made wonderful sense at the time but I can't remember it now! Something about there being plenty of scope, because of the anatomy of the inside of your back and spine, all those chambers, for them to take unevenly. But when they do take, they are smashing and the most sophisticated form of pain relief.
Abbymeg and KMP1 - and Jolly - I didn't know they were going to do both. The spinal block lasts about 90 mins, I think. And the epi is on top and you keep it in for up to 48 hrs for pain relief. If it works it must be blissful because you are pain free. I am not sure of the order they put them in - all that happened was they got me to perch on the table, then rubbed stuff on my back. I had to bend forward and sort of hunch over a pillow. I was expecting the needles to really hurt (I had a spinal tap once and that killed) but whether it was due to the anaesthetist's skill I don't know, but it wasn't that painful at all. I know Verso felt differently so I guess it varies. I couldn't tell you a thing about the size of the needles or anything, as I didn't know what was happening - they were just fiddling with my back. Yes, I knew they were sticking things into it but nothing really stood out. The thing they put in my hand hurt more, actually! BUt even that was only a short sharp ping. KMP, as for feeling them sewing me up, you can't really feel specifics of them sewing or feel any pain - I promise - just weird feelings and pushings and pullings and pressings which, personally, I didn't particularly relish. It might not bother some people and it would probably bother me less next time around.
Veggie, what you say about oxytocin makes perfect sense to me, I am sure you are right. Makes you wonder whether there is a way of inducing it when you haven't had a vaginal birth.
Anyway, I know I am blahing on about my cs but I am extremely keen to hear about everyone else's experiences. One of the good things on here is that we've got a bit of everything: VBACs, homebirths, hospital vaginal deliveries, both midwife and consultant led. Oooh, I wonder how Mibbes is getting on. And how are things today, Jump?
Other thing I wanted to say was when we got home on Saturday I felt very teary. Don't know about what, but I couldn't stop. I still feel more emotional than usual but I have stopped crying at a drop of the hat (for now!) She isn't sleeping too well at nights - she likes to sleep in the day. The midwife said to me this morning that that's the pattern they are in in the womb, so we have to play with her more in the day to get her more tired out for nights as newborns need four hours of playtime and if it's up to them they will want this in the middle of the night.
I am back on the NHS for postnatal care, as I am now in the country, but it seems a bit underresourced. I think it's a countryside thing though. They phoned me up on Sunday to say they couldn't send a midwife to visit as they were too busy. Then I had to stay awake all yesterday when I was dying to sleep (DP was in court yesterday and couldn't get outof it) waiting for her, and she finally rocked up at 5pm. She didn't have some of the right stuff with her so we had to drive DD into the maternity unit ourselves today because of cutbacks (it's ten miles away in a little cottage hospital in the Cotswolds, admittely very cute looking), and now I have been told I will only get one more midwife visit and one HV visit and that's it. Is that normal? Am I being a diva? I don't think my consultant will be very impressed.
Anyway, we took DD out for brunch afterwards (her first outing!) then off to a pub as I'd spotted they were doing mulled wine. Mt stitches still pull and I am a bit weedy but it was lovely to get out. Oooh, before I end this ridiculously mammoth post, can I just say to Kayz, I hope you get more sleep tonight darling.